A Greenwich Village motorist, accused of causing the fatal accident that took the life of a Massachusetts native late last year, has been apprehended on a homicide charge, according to police reports. The tragic incident unfolded just months before the victim’s wedding was slated to take place.
Authorities arrested Gary Levinson, aged 62, on Tuesday morning. He faces charges of criminally negligent homicide and reckless driving related to the incident on November 6, which claimed the life of 27-year-old Valerie Schoeck.
On that fateful morning, Schoeck was crossing Morton Street at the intersection with Seventh Avenue South around 8:30 a.m. when Levinson, behind the wheel of a 2020 GMC Savanna, allegedly struck her while executing a left-hand turn, as per police and witness accounts.
Originally from Cambridge, Schoeck had been residing in the West Village. Despite being swiftly transported to Bellevue Hospital, medical personnel were unable to save her life.
Levinson, a resident of the East Village, remained at the crash site and faced no immediate charges. However, subsequent investigations revealed he was driving against traffic at the time of the collision, striking Schoeck as she lawfully crossed within the crosswalk, police stated.
But a further investigation determined he was driving the wrong way in traffic when he hit Schoeck, who was walking the crosswalk, cops said.
He was arraigned on an indictment in Manhattan Supreme Court Tuesday and released on his own recognizance, according to prosecutors and online records.
He is due back in court April 8.
Levinson has no previous arrests, according to police.
Schoeck was preparing to get married next summer, according to her family.
“The woman killed is my nephew’s fiancé,” a woman named Carol commented on a 1010 WINS TikTok post at the time of the deadly crash.
“We are all shocked and desperately saddened and in disbelief. Her name is Valerie. She was to be married in June. There are no words to describe the grief. She was an extraordinary gorgeous young lady. Thank you for your prayers.”
Schoeck’s fiancé, Ross Barlow, declined to speak to a Post reporter who visited her apartment in November.
